Now is the time to make up for lost investment in our border counties – Richmond

With the chaos of Brexit largely settled, focus should shift to making up for lost time and lost investment in our border counties, according to Fine Gael Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, Neale Richmond T.D.

Speaking at the Cross-Border Trade and Economic Conference yesterday (Tuesday) in Dundalk, Minister Richmond said: “After years of chaos, the tides of Brexit have settled and we have a functioning Executive in Northern Ireland once again.

“Now is the time for political leaders of all traditions to come together to focus on building the all-island economy.

“For too long businesses across the border regions and in Northern Ireland have suffered from the uncertainty brought about by Brexit. Now, Northern Ireland is in the enviable position of having access to both the UK internal market and the EU Single Market, making it a hugely attractive destination for investment.

“We have to remember that when companies look to Northern Ireland for investment, they are not solely availing of what the North has to offer, but our entire island.

“A company in Derry can hire staff from Donegal, a dairy in Fermanagh can process milk from Cavan, a factory in Dundalk can use skilled workers from Newry.

“This is how we build on our all-island economy, by working hand in hand rather than viewing each other as competition.

“Cross border trade is currently valued at over €11 billion, a threefold increase since the Good Friday Agreement.

“While this is a fantastic achievement, now is only the beginning for our all-island economy.

“The border counties have been left behind for too long, our state agencies must now prioritise this region to ensure that we can make up for lost time” Minister Richmond concluded.